Student Section?

[hammb]

The bigger issue is and will always remain getting people who are not students to games. Students are a finite group. Non students are infinite.

The thing is, the students that do come do not pay to get into the games. It makes attendance figures look better, for sure, but its irrelevant to the Athletic department's budget, they've already got the students' money.

More importantly, though, I think our student turnout at football games has been absolutely fine the past 2-3 years. We've averaged about 7-8k students a game. In a 20,000 student university you cannot expect more than that, IMO. Our attendance woes have everything to do with non-affiliated locals and uninterested alums, not student support.

[momtartin]

I'm sort of divided on the whole "Flockers" issue, as a student. On the one hand, yea I like the idea of the department getting students involved, and getting them to games, and I really hope that more students come to the games, it adds to the excitement and overall atmosphere of the game (My freshman year was 2003, and I still get goosebumps thinking about the NIU game, and how intense that place was, one of my greatest memories here at BG so far). On the other hand, I don't really wanna pay $15 extra to go to a game that I should already have priority seating at. I will not be happy if I'm at the game an hour before some other kid, and have a front row seat, then get pushed out because he's in the "flock" and I'm not, even though I was there WAY before him. I'm not saying he's not a good fan, but if I'm there before him, and I get shoved back a few rows, that isn't cool. I guess it really depends on how they organize this. If they can manage to get everyone in, and still allow the students who aren't in the "flock" to have a fair shot at good seats, then great, more power to them. But if they start using this "flock" like I mentioned before, then thats not cool. i guess we'll find out saturday, which is also the first home football game I can LEGALLY drink at, so I'm looking forward to Saturday for all sorts of reasons

[manager]

Winning helps but waiting five weeks into the school year for a home football game is a JOKE. There's been plenty of time to form other habits or reinforce old ones, like staying in the dorm or apartment to watch Obnoxious State.
The only thing that's kept me interested is working on the BG News 85th Anniversary Reunion. To any old staffers, stop by the tent Saturday. We'll be happy to see you. Just have $5 bucks ready. We haven't found a rich BG News alum to underwrite the fledgling group.

[falconman]

I'm sort of divided on the whole "Flockers" issue, as a student. On the one hand, yea I like the idea of the department getting students involved, and getting them to games, and I really hope that more students come to the games, it adds to the excitement and overall atmosphere of the game (My freshman year was 2003, and I still get goosebumps thinking about the NIU game, and how intense that place was, one of my greatest memories here at BG so far). On the other hand, I don't really wanna pay $15 extra to go to a game that I should already have priority seating at. I will not be happy if I'm at the game an hour before some other kid, and have a front row seat, then get pushed out because he's in the "flock" and I'm not, even though I was there WAY before him. I'm not saying he's not a good fan, but if I'm there before him, and I get shoved back a few rows, that isn't cool. I guess it really depends on how they organize this. If they can manage to get everyone in, and still allow the students who aren't in the "flock" to have a fair shot at good seats, then great, more power to them. But if they start using this "flock" like I mentioned before, then thats not cool. i guess we'll find out saturday, which is also the first home football game I can LEGALLY drink at, so I'm looking forward to Saturday for all sorts of reasons

It's not about who's getting the better seat in this situation, it's about helping the Athletic Department. If you want to have a good seat then join the club, it's only $15 dollars. We already get into the games for free, I know the AD takes out money from our tuition, but what school doesn't. Do you think the Ohio State kids bitch when they have to pay money to go to a Football game? Hell no, they're there for the experience. This is a very simple and affordable way of supporting the university and it's a great way to meet new people that like to do the same things as you do. As I've said before, I really like this idea, and I think it can grow by leaps and bounds in the future.

[Metz]

I will not be happy if I'm at the game an hour before some other kid, and have a front row seat, then get pushed out because he's in the "flock" and I'm not, even though I was there WAY before him. I'm not saying he's not a good fan, but if I'm there before him, and I get shoved back a few rows, that isn't cool.

If you aren't in the group and you get there that early, you will still be in the front row of the non-flock student section.

[momtartin]

I will not be happy if I'm at the game an hour before some other kid, and have a front row seat, then get pushed out because he's in the "flock" and I'm not, even though I was there WAY before him. I'm not saying he's not a good fan, but if I'm there before him, and I get shoved back a few rows, that isn't cool.

If you aren't in the group and you get there that early, you will still be in the front row of the non-flock student section.

Yea, I wasn't sure if they were gonna have a flock student section and a non-flock student section, basically all I know is what has been said already. That works then. Like I said, if they organize this correctly, then they can really make this work

[It's the Journey...]

But will the "Flock" section be clearly marked, or will this play out like past games when students are moved once the "Flcok" arrives? I would hope for the former but I have reservation on the preparedness of some in the department. The West side will be tight for this game down front. Not only will there be the usual section blocked off for recruits and their families, but the marching band will be back to their old spot and the alumni will be joining them. So if I figure it right that should fill almost the entire NorthWest part of the lower sections. I would feel more at ease if the department were not asking a group who was already paying over $600.00 per year to pay additional money. A person could buy season tickets for almost every sport, at least the big 4, at BGSU for that amount of money. I would also not have as many questions if the information on the website were more, what's the word, informative. Where will they sit, how will they be identified, things like that. The lack of information provided leads me to concerns. Clever and Metz, you can flame me all you want, it really doesn't matter much to me.

Do you think the Ohio State kids bitch when they have to pay money to go to a Football game? Hell no, they're there for the experience.

First, I won't mention any specific Big Ten school. Second, while some of the money students pay at the school mentioned above does go to athletics it is a much smaller amount than we pay here at BGSU. Third, Big Ten school do not allow any of their students to get into athletic events for free, or for what they have already paid in the real world. Each student must purchast season student tickets. Last I knew through a friend of mine that graduated from the school mentioned above, that price was $100.00 or more depending on where you wanted to sit.

I fuss about this not to be "that guy," but to bring to light the little things that the department seems to drop the ball on or not think through completly. More thought into these small things would benifit in terms of more attendance.

One final thing, I disagree about students being a finite group. There will always be students at BGSU. The day that does not hold true we will not have to worry about any of this because there will not be a team to go and watch.

Off to work, then in the car at 6:00am to make the six hour drive to BG. CHEER THE FALCONS!!!!!

[Ineedbotox]

It seems that the freshmen would be the right way to get things started. That's how they do it at Baylor (they call them the Baylor Line):

http://www.baylor.edu/baylorlinecamps/splash.php

And even at stupid A&M (Fish Camp):

http://www.theeagle.com/aandmnews/082904fishcamp.php

Then at the games, you at least have a large group of students who are all united in their dress & they actually know the cheers. It seems like BG could do it at their new freshmen orientation thing. Don't know that you need to join a separate group or anything though. At those 2 schools, it is all freshmen who participate.

[Metz]

Clever and Metz, you can flame me all you want, it really doesn't matter much to me.

Maybe it should matter sometimes. All your opinions are so negative...it's a wonder you still like this place.

[Falconfreak90]

The bigger issue is and will always remain getting people who are not students to games. Students are a finite group. Non students are infinite.

The thing is, the students that do come do not pay to get into the games. It makes attendance figures look better, for sure, but its irrelevant to the Athletic department's budget, they've already got the students' money.

More importantly, though, I think our student turnout at football games has been absolutely fine the past 2-3 years. We've averaged about 7-8k students a game. In a 20,000 student university you cannot expect more than that, IMO. ".

I agree Hammb. I think the student support has been excellent since UM arrived. I can remember back in the late 90's when 250 students, if we were lucky, would show up.

[Schadenfreude]

More importantly, though, I think our student turnout at football games has been absolutely fine the past 2-3 years. We've averaged about 7-8k students a game. In a 20,000 student university you cannot expect more than that, IMO.

I agree completely.

[Schadenfreude]

One final thing, I disagree about students being a finite group. There will always be students at BGSU.

If getting students to turn out is perfectly successful and every student attends every football game, that would not ensure a sell out -- and, as others have pointed out, it won't help revenue.

The challenge of getting nonstudents to games is larger -- but so are the rewards. If we want to grow our program in a long term sense, it comes down to getting people outside of Bowling Green to come to games. [/quote]

[flock4life]

THE FLOCK....I think that this is a great way to show your support of BGSU athletics. It's NOT okay that out of 20,000 students only 7,000 (actually 5,000 is the average) show up to the games. Lets not talk about other sports outside of football, there are some faithful fans and they are awesome. Then you have students who show up for GAMEDAY and never come back again, until we are on tv or ranked in the top 25.....Lastly, Each department in athletics has a job, its the coaches job to worry about wins and the marketing office has a job to do. That is to do everything possible to icreate a positive and exciting game day experience for fans.

If you all have any questions about the FLOCK, please call the number that is provided. A name was not included because there are multiple people who have helped create this group and to direct someone to a number is more productive than directing them to ONE person. THANKS METZ...you are awesome and I want to thank you for your support and input in this group!

[SaxyIrishTenor]

I just think the Flock section would behard to enforce - how do they plan to do that out of curiosity?

I mean, ropes never meant anything to any college student I've ever known, and if they need a t-shirt to get in, all they have to say is "It's in the laundry" or "I left it at home" and some guy who doesn't care will let them in. It might sounds like a good idea, but it just might be logistically hard.

As for paying $15, I'm not such a fan of that, considering they get a lot of my money as it is. I'd need more than a t-shirt and "priority seating" to get me to pay it. And I go to a lot of the games as it is...

It could work, but it would take a MASSIVE publicity campaign, and lots of time, for it to kickin.

[BGDrew]

I think it would help to put more information out there. I really got the "Money first, answers later" feeling from it. I'll probably still join, but it's just the feeling I get from it.

Also, it'd be much better if you were able to Bursar it.